Is there any way to clean or flush out the pcv system? Anyone ever tried? Just wondering if it's possible rather than wait to get the parts ordered in.

Thanks

 

im just about to do mine today though i just got my new oil trap yesterday i tried running cleaner through the lines and i had no luck

 

youl probably just want to order a new one from FCP GROTON THEY ARE RELATIVELY CHEAP AND THEY COME WITH THE NEW INTAKE GASKET WHICH YOU WILL NEED after you take the intake manifold off - dont be cheap when reassembling your car the old maifold gasket will leak - trust me - been there done that

 

good to know guys thanks

 

Just replace the system. Cleaning it will not work.

 

Chances are all of your hoses will crumble anyways when you try to remove them.

 

You can clean. but you will be doing triple the work and like Gil said, some of your hoses might Disintegrate. I would just replace. The price is cheap to buy all the new stuff!

 

When you do the work, regardless you'll want to buy a new fuel line if you're replacing your PCV system and you'll want to buy extra vacuum tubing for most everything attached to your turbo control valve.

 

When I did the PCV system, I just did the pcv system, I didn't replace any vacuum lines or fuel lines, and everything went back together OK. I guess it depends on year, I heard the 96/97 have a different fuel line that is hard to take off and put back on without breaking, I didn't break mine though.

 

I found this procedure:

http://lakesidedp.com/uploadpics/pcv/

Looks like a PITA, but I need to do it since I see oil puddling on top of the head near the spark plugs.

 

Same write up I used. The first time you do it it will take you probably a weekend, after you do it once it's easy, i can do the PCV in about an hour now.

TIP: You do not need to remove bottom row of bolts on intake manifold, just loosen them.

 

Gilber, if you look at that procedure above, I had to cut through hose (step 6) C. That joker was practically welded to the metal.

Yeah, it's a pain for sure. It probably took me 6 hours to fumble my way through and replace extra hoses, but in the end the job was done and I didn't have to pay a mechanic.

 

Yikes!! FCP Groton want $155.00 for it!! Is that relatively cheap? I replaced a PCV valve in another car for $2.00!

 

It's not a PCV valve, it's an entire system including an oil trap. More than likely the whole system is clogged and replacing one part won't fix the problem. When I replaced mine the trap was clogged, the lines were cracking and clogged.

 

,,,Looks like a PITA, but I need to do it since I see oil puddling on top of the head near the spark plugs.,,,


Make sure the oil filler cap gasket is good too. That can allow oil out and into the spark plug area.

 

Would red seafoam in the oil help to loosen stuff up and flow thru?
Are hot engine flushes recommended on these Volvos?
Hot engine flush is removed oil, add solvent/cleaner(hot flush chemical), run for 5 to ten min, then drain, replace filter and fill with new oil.

 

Seafoam is a fairly aggressive agent and will remove a lot of sludge. The problem is that the loosened sludge has to go somewhere and can get stuck in some of the smaller oil galleys, particularly risky for a poorly maintained engine. It will not likely fix a clogged PCV system since the gunk will be in the hoses and the ports - kind of out of the main oil flow but some have done the treatment prior to replacing the hoses and the oil separator. A better approach is to "rod out" the ports with the hoses off and then do an oil change after the new parts are on. The best approach is to drop the oil pan and clean the bottom end when replacing the PCV system and inspect/service the oil pump at that time as well. This will give another 100K of happy motoring :-)

 

When you pull off a sump, sometimes they'll be very clean, and sometimes there's a lot of charcoal in the drain line from the oil separator. So I would be concerned, but not terrified, about that getting stuck on the oil pickup screen of an engine flush did anything. I suppose there is relatively little circulation of oil around that direction, or none if it stops up, so I don't know that a flush does anything in a short time.